Local animal shelter workers told Channel 2 Action News they're seeing a spike in dogs with serious neck injuries.
It's illegal to tie up, or tether, a dog in Douglas County and leave it unattended.
But workers at the Douglas County Animal Shelter told Channel 2’s Matt Belanger they're seeing an alarming spike in dogs coming in with injuries consistent with that kind of treatment.
Workers at the shelter don't often know much about the animals that come their way. But they say they're positive about what happened to one dog named Willow. %
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"This doesn't happen overnight. This dog grew around her tether," said Stacey Worsham with the Douglas County Animal Shelter.
The 3-year-old terrier mix was picked up as a stray with distinct cuts around her neck. She's the third dog to show up with similar injuries in recent weeks.
"This is what happens when you just leave a dog on a tether and you let it grow in and you don't check on the dog," Worsham said.
, who was nearly decapitated after being tied up so long with a tight chain. The chain cut deep into his neck.
After hours of surgery, Frank was on the mend. But his medical complications were just too great, and Wednesday workers at the animal shelter made the difficult decision to put him down.
"We planned for his last day to be great, but we weren't able to give that to him so we won't let him have another bad day," Worsham said.
Tethering dogs and leaving them unattended is illegal in Douglas County. Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties have similar restrictions.
Some people may not realize it's illegal because the laws vary by county. But animal advocates say that has to change.
"If you see a dog tied up, you call your animal control," Worsham said. "Whatever we have to do to make sure it doesn't happen, that Frank doesn't happen ever again."
Willow will be ready for adoption at the Douglas County Animal Shelter Thursday.
Besides a little extra care and a checkup, she's expected to make a full recovery.
Cox Media Group
